Sequel to Yet Another Soviet Russian Set 1955 Version

Gorgeous set. Pristine.

Wow! I love those wide based pawns. That was one of the things that drew me to the Soviet era sets. The almost onion shape of the lower parts of the King and Queen with wide bases. Like these ... 

Would you say that the different republics that were part of the USSR had their own style of chess pieces?

These are Latvian chess pieces, the knight kind of reminds me the ones of your chess set.

Good question, but I would have no idea. Thanks for sharing some pics of your gorgeous Latvian set. 

Wow! Another really nice set, goodknightmike. The eye cuts in these knight seem larger than those in cgrau's red knights. And that crown on the queen looks really refined.

I think I should post my 90s set for comparison. The older sets are so much more detailed. While the sets do share a lineage, the changes through the years are obvious. I wonder if the set manufacturers were just "cutting corners" as time went on (sorry), or if they thought that they were, in fact, streamlining and modernizing the set.

Wow! Another really nice set, goodknightmike. The eye cuts in these knight seem larger than those in cgrau's red knights. And that crown on the queen looks really refined.

I think I should post my 90s set for comparison. The older sets are so much more detailed. While the sets do share a lineage, the changes through the years are obvious. I wonder if the set manufacturers were just "cutting corners" as time went on (sorry), or if they thought that they were, in fact, streamlining and modernizing the set.

Wow! Another really nice set, goodknightmike. The eye cuts in these knight seem larger than those in cgrau's red knights. And that crown on the queen looks really refined.

I think I should post my 90s set for comparison. The older sets are so much more detailed. While the sets do share a lineage, the changes through the years are obvious. I wonder if the set manufacturers were just "cutting corners" as time went on (sorry), or if they thought that they were, in fact, streamlining and modernizing the set.

Up, I'd say as time went on, the details were degraded to speed up production and decrease costs. I think it had nothing to do with streamlining or modernizing.

Here are a few pics of my Latvian set. The shopkeeper claims that it was manufactured in 1990. I would not know how to dispute it but I'm not sure I would. In comparison to all of the Latvian sets I have seen posted, this one is proves to be the simplest. (Please excuse my humble pics. I am using my wife's phone as I do not have one myself.)

The Family:

The Royals:

Note the simplicity of the Queen's crown.

The Bishop:

His mitre has also lost its traditional pointy top.

The Knight:

His carvings are there but very subtle. His eyes, not even cuts.

The Rook:

Without crenellations.

And the Pawn:

He, too, has changed.

The youngest - and possibly the last - in the line of Latvians has lost the elegance of the ancestors with their fine flourishes. Yet they still carry themselves and their legacy quite well on the board.

Thanks for the pics UpcountryRain. A simple yet charming set. I love it! 

I wish there was a definitive study of the all styles of Soviet sets (in book form). To me these tools of the trade are pure ART !! Were any of the vintage Soviet pro sets weighted? I love the mix of East and West in their forms. Thanks for these GREAT images guys 

I wish there was a definitive study of the all styles of Soviet sets (in book form). To me these tools of the trade are pure ART !! Were any of the vintage Soviet pro sets weighted? I love the mix of East and West in their forms. Thanks for these GREAT images guys 

Thanks, goodknightmike. Yes, the set is charming and I love it. And I hope its simplicity helps you to appreciate even more the early sets of the Latvian line in your collection.